Irvinestown Wanderers 2 NFC Kesh 5

Red hot Mark Jones made it eight goals in two games as he bagged a second successive four goal haul in the 5-2 win away to Irvinestown Wanderers on Saturday.

The 38 year old is showing no signs of letting up and he was the difference between the sides in this derby encounter at the Bawnacre, hitting the back of the net four times from six shots at goal in another clinical display from the striker.

And manager Nicky Noble had nothing for praise for his star man.

“On his day Mark is the best striker in the league. I think he had six shots on Saturday and scored four goals and when he is on it like that there is not much that can touch him. The big thing for us is that we have got young legs around him and that helps and he was the difference. He has started the season really well,” said Noble.

However, the Kesh boss was honest in his assessment of the game as a whole and felt that it was closer than the scoreline suggested.

“I thought we were poor and Irvinestown had a lot of the ball but we were clinical with our chances,” he added.

Irvinestown manager Ryan Beacom was keen to take the positives out of the game.

“It was a good competitive game and we had plenty of possession but the difference between the sides was Mark Jones. We have a lot more positives than negatives to take out of it and we’ll just look to push on now,” he commented.

It was the visitors who had the first couple of chances in the game including a Lee Walker volley from a sliced kick out by Wanderers keeper Andrew Nevin that flew narrowly over the bar.

At the other end the impressive Liam Murphy threatened when he was slipped in by Caolan Ward but he clipped the ball just over the top.

Kesh though were to go on and draw first blood in the contest when Walker latched on to a loose ball and raced in before picking out Jones who slotted home his first of the day form six yards for 1-0.

However, the lead was shortlived as Irvinestown responded straight away, levelling up the game within a minute.

Joey Miller burst down the flank before crossing for Murphy and although his effort was saved Thomas Owens was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

Kesh edged back in front when Jordon Flack claimed possession and fed Josh Flack who produced a calm finish past Nevin but for the second time in the game the home side found a quick response. Gary Maguire’s corner was turned home by Owens for his second of the game.

The visitors though were to go in at the break with the advantage with Jordon Flack providing his second assist. He released Jones on this occasion and the front man did the rest as he rounded the keeper to slot home to make it 3-2 at the break.

Both sides were reduced to ten men on the hour mark as Walker and Swift got their marching orders after clashing and it was Wanderers who were the better side in terms of possession over the last half an hour.

Maguire had a couple of efforts for the home side that were just off target but late on Kesh put the game to bed.

Jones completed his hat-trick when he was sent scurrying through by Nigel Beacom and he outpaced the defender before chipping the ball over the keeper for 4-2.

And the striker rounded off the scoring with a crisp finish to the bottom corner to leave it 5-2 at the final whistle.